DSST Stapleton Cleared After Report Of Possible Person With Gun, Previous Bomb Threat

DENVER (CBS4) - Police in Denver Thursday morning responded to a report of a person with a gun at the Denver School of Science and Technology in Stapleton, but the no gun was found and the scene was cleared.

The school, located at 2000 Valentia Street, was put on lockdown just after 9 a.m. The scene was cleared just before 11:30 a.m.

According to Christine Downs with Denver police, officers were called out to the campus based on a conversation that was overheard about a gun.

Nearby Bill Roberts K-8 School was put on lockout as a precaution.

Some parents CBS4's Jamie Leary spoke with said they were frustrated about the lack of information they were getting.

"Well, I have an imagination, and when you don't know you can imagine … human nature to imagine the worst; common sense says to prepare yourself for the worst. And then when it doesn't come, you're okay," DSST parent Myron McMair said.

"Just the crime that's been going on and everything that's been going on in the neighborhood … so it's a little frustrating," Bill Roberts parent Lacey Kenner said.

The campus could be on edge because of a threat that was made against the school on Wednesday.

According to a letter to parents from DSST Stapleton Campus Director Jeff Desserich, a threatening email was discovered on the Denver Public Schools Safety and Security server.

"Because the content referenced a future bomb threat, we took these allegations extremely seriously and moved quickly," Desserich said in the letter. "After extensive investigation by the Denver Police Department Wednesday evening, they reached the conclusion that the threat was not credible."

Desserich said that despite the threat not being credible, as an extra precaution the school increased the presence of security on the campus on Thursday and will again on Friday.

"We want to assure you that the safety of students and staff is our absolute top priority," Desserich said. "We trust the conclusion reached by the police department and don't have any reason to believe that there is a risk to students."

An official with Denver Public Schools told CBS4 she has some reason to believe that students were behind the Wednesday email bomb threat and Thursday's incident. She said they will be questioning students and looking through emails. The district is also working with police and the investigation is ongoing.